How long do you have to work somewhere to get unemployment in Washington?

It's not really about how long you work at one job - Washington ESD looks at your total earnings over what they call a 'base period.' The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period and have earnings in at least 680 hours of work.

I was in a similar situation last year - worked 8 months at one place then got laid off. The key thing is your total earnings, not just from one employer. Washington ESD will look at ALL your W-2s from the base period quarters.

I went through this whole process trying to figure out Washington ESD requirements and honestly calling them was impossible - kept getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Way easier than spending hours on hold.

The 680 hours requirement is what trips a lot of people up. That's roughly 17 weeks of full-time work. But here's the thing - it doesn't have to be consecutive and it doesn't have to be with the same employer. It's total hours across all jobs during your base period.

wait so if i worked part time for like 2 years but never hit 680 hours in any quarter i still wouldnt qualify?? this system is so messed up

I remember when I first looked into this I got totally confused by all the quarter stuff. Basically Washington state uses calendar quarters - Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec. Your base period is usually quarters 2-5 counting back from when you file. So timing can actually matter a bit.

Here's something important - even if you don't qualify under the standard base period, Washington ESD will automatically check if you qualify under the alternate base period. The alternate uses the most recent four completed quarters instead of the older ones.

Anyone else think it's crazy how complicated they make this? Like why can't they just say 'worked 6 months, you're good'? All this quarter calculation nonsense is just designed to confuse people and deny claims.

Pro tip: if you're not sure whether you qualify, just apply anyway. The worst they can do is say no, and you might be surprised. I thought I didn't have enough work history but turns out I qualified just fine.

Just wanted to add - if you end up needing to talk to Washington ESD about your eligibility, definitely try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication and it actually worked. Got through to someone same day instead of calling for weeks.

One thing to remember is that even if you qualify for benefits, you still have to meet all the ongoing requirements - filing weekly claims, doing work search activities, being available for work, etc. The initial qualification is just the first step.

i got denied the first time i applied because i didnt understand the base period thing. had to appeal and explain that i actually did have enough earnings just in different quarters. finally got approved but it was a huge headache

For anyone reading this thread later - the earnings requirement changes each year based on the state's average wage. For 2025 you need at least $1,000 in your base period and earnings in at least 680 hours. But definitely check the current requirements when you file since these numbers do get updated.

Bottom line for the OP - with 8 months of work you very likely qualify as long as you were working decent hours. Don't stress too much about it, just file when you become unemployed and let Washington ESD make the determination.

Just remember to file right away if you do lose your job. There's a waiting week but your claim date is what matters for when benefits start, not when they get around to processing it.